Chronicles of Han: Preserving Creata: Part 1: Learning Curve

We continued down Fishery Road, heading west, back towards the industrial area, crossed over Pier and continued into our section of factories.

Tucker allowed me to drive around the area to familiarize myself with this lesser-known section.

There were loads of dead-ends and tiny alleys, a real nightmare if you did not know where you were going. I had a map at home, but it would have been useless compared to the actual layout of the factories.

When Tucker felt I would find my way around, we drove down to Beach Road. This was the south boundary of our turf, running along the waterfront between Pier and ending in a dead-end before it could reach Dunn.

The houses along this road spoke of upper middle-class people. Nothing fancy, yet distinctly separated form the rest of Market Square’s factory worker population.

We turned around at the dead-end and headed back the way we came. Traffic was picking up as daily life continued. Children were returning home from school. It took careful driving with full attention to negotiate the oncoming traffic and the children in the street.

Tucker indicated that I should drive back towards Dunn.

“Not much will go on from now until after dark,” he remarked. “Too many people about. The factory workers will be joining the crowds soon. So let’s make a last run up Dunn, then take the Snout on-ramp and head back to Head Quarters.”

I had no more pre-sights and was extremely relieved when we finally reached HQ.

Tucker showed me where to refill the vehicle behind the NHSF building.

Taking out a pass-card from the holding compartment within the vehicle, he swiped it over the scanner and the organic fuel was released through the pumping mechanism into the vehicle.

Tucker showed me what was required to be filled in on the log-book. One more mundane task learnt today.

We drove to the front of the building and parked the vehicle in its appropriate parking space before joining the other officers returning from their rounds.

The nightshift was heading the other way and everything seemed total organized chaos.

I stuck close to Tucker, apprehensive to get lost in the crowd of dark blue uniforms.

We steadily worked our way to our quieter cubicle. Tucker sat down heavily and indicated the chair opposite him. He gave me one of his thoughtful stares before he spoke to me.

“You’re not one for crowded places either,” he observed. “I’ve decided to do the paperwork this evening. Then you can see how it’s done and you can do it tomorrow.”

We worked through the ‘cases’ we had encountered throughout the day. The two arrest files were to go to the detectives for further investigation. The incident with the roaming children was duly noted on a separate Incident form by Tucker. The episode with the old man was filed under Public Services and the one with the woman under Public Disturbances.

By the time we were finished, the precinct suddenly felt deserted.

Tucker stacked the files neatly on his desk before we headed for the lockers.

“I shower at home,” Tucker remarked when we reached the locker room. “I’ll take my leave as soon as I have my civilians on. Try and get some sleep. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Thanks, until then.”

We split up. His locker was right on the other side where the officers had private cubicles. I headed for the lockers nearest the back door.

The other rookies were all dressed in civilian clothes, and I noticed that Slick had already collected our winnings from them. He had a broad grin on his freckled face.

“I’ll wait outside,” he said, before heading for the door.

Ryan and Jack avoided contact and followed Slick. Stacey waited for me.

“You’re working late already,” she commented.

“Seems like it.” I was tired and only wanted to go home.

“I’ve ordered a meal for you from Hankley’s. They are just down the street, so stop there and ask for the order placed in your name. Here, it’s on me.” She held out some Crata notes towards me.

I’ve never turned down money, and I was not about to start. I took it from her.

“Thanks.”

I had to give her credit. She really seemed to like me.

“You’re welcome. See you tomorrow?”

I looked up at her.

Why did she make it a question? Did she know something I did not?

“Yes, of course.”

She seemed relieved and retreated towards the door, giving me one more glance over her shoulder before stepping out, leaving me feeling comfortable with her body language.